Steel city residents Surendra K. Jha and Jayant Kumar Bhuyan on Monday visited Jamshedpur Blood Bank to encourage and congratulate their childhood friend for continuing with the noble gesture for the 94th time on World Blood Donor Day.

Both centurion blood donors, they wanted to mark the special day by pumping up the spirit of Shashank Shekhar who too would join their century club in months to come.

World Blood Donor Day, first celebrated in 2004, raises awareness to the need for blood donation and to thank blood donors for their voluntary service.

While 59-year-old Jha, a resident of Sonari, has donated blood 158 times, Bhuyan, an international chess arbiter who resides in Bhuiyandih, has donated 109 times. Jha breached the 150 mark in May, 2019.

"I could not donate blood on Monday since I had given the same months back. One can donate blood four times a year (in every three-month interval). But I feel happy my friend Shashank is continuing with this noble gesture and nearing the century mark. The visit to the blood back was just to be at his side and encourage him on this special day," Jha said.

Echoing Jha, Bhuyan said both he and Jha had planned to be at Shashank's side on World Blood Donor Day. "I felt very happy and congratulated our friend. It would not be long before Shashank joins our century club," he added.

All three blood donors appealed to the people to come forward and donate blood in Covid time. "There is a shortage of blood in pandemic and people shpuld come forward to donate blood. People should voluntarily donate blood,” they said in unison.

Shashank, a resident of Sakchi and Tata Steel employee, thanked Jha and Bhuyan for being at his side. "I felt very happy with the presence of my friends. I promise to continue donating blood. Blood donation comes to me from within," he added.

Jha, Bhuyan and Shashank are friends for decades. They love adventure and have trekked to Sandakphu, the highest point of Singalila Ridge in Darjeeling, Bengal, in December 2017.

The three also often go trekking to Dalma hills and had undertaken a cleanliness drive inside the elephant abode some years back.

They also distributed soaps by visiting a leprosy colony in city in March last year and also spread awareness about coronavirus.

They have also planned a trip to a new destination (for adventure) once the Covid-related situation improves.